ARE ESPN EXECS READY TO HEAR AN EARFUL FROM CABLE OPERATORS?

Cable operators are ready to "vent their frustration"
to ESPN execs at next week's NCTA Cable '98 Show in Atlanta
over the net's proposed 20% rate increase following its
$4.8B NFL deal, according to Scott Hettrick of the HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER. Operators "are ready to exact their pound of
flesh" from ESPN and Disney, and "cite several points of
leverage at their disposal," including "stonewalling the
launch" of ESPNEWS, ESPN West, Classic Sports Network, and
"even" Toon Disney. Hettrick adds that the "repercussions"
may even affect the Disney Channel's ongoing efforts to
convert to a basic service, and that some "major" cable
companies "have warned ESPN to tread carefully" in the realm
of rate increases as cable costs "are again drawing the ears
of legislators." An ESPN spokesperson said that the net is
"responding" to the concerns and "has instituted new
incentives and adjusted packaging discounts," among them
"flexibility in subscriber count." ESPN also offers
discounts for positioning their channels side-by-side and
for lower channel placement (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 5/1).
TOO MANY ANGELS IN THE OUTFIELD: In Philadelphia, Lynn
Zinser writes that ESPN is providing its viewers with "such
a steady diet" of Angels telecasts, "they are close to
qualifying as a food group." Although over the years ESPN
has "done a better job than any other network at maintaining
its credibility," the net "runs headlong into image
problems" with its Angels coverage. Zinser: "[I]t can't
erase the perception that it's doing Disney's bidding when
it floods the airwaves with Disney's team." Fox, which also
broadcasts MLB games and recently purchased the Dodgers, has
a "built-in buffer" regarding conflicts of interests,
because its MLB contract limits any team's number of
appearances to nine. Fox Senior VP/Communications Vince
Wladika: "That's there to prevent us from doing what it
appears ESPN is doing." Zinser adds that ESPN "also has a
limit" on how many times a team can appear, but the net
"won't say what it is" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 5/1).